In the clubs and under the radar

Gamalon returns ‘one more time’ for a night of music

It’s been almost a year to the day since the last time we saw Gamalon – the version of the revered prog-fusion band that featured guitarists George Puleo and Bruce Brucato, drummer Ted Reinhardt and bassist Tom Reinhardt.

The group last reformed for a December 2011 gig in the Sportsmen’s Tavern, pulling in a packed house and delivering a blissfully blistering evening of complex, virtuosic music that was ecstatically received. Now, the same lineup will reconvene for another show – dubbed “One more time …” – at 8 p.m. Saturday in Club Infinity (8166 Main St., Clarence).

The format will be “An Evening with Gamalon,” meaning there will not be an opening band, and Gamalon will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. sharp. Tickets are $15 advance, $18 day of show. Find them at Terrapin Station, Club Infinity or through Ticketweb.com. Additional information is through www.infinityconcerts.com.

Remembering ‘Stoj’

Tonight, the members of Rhubarb will join together with friends, family, fans and fellow musicians in Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar (253 Allen St.) to celebrate the life of musician and longtime music community member John Stojanovich, who passed away in October.

Rhubarb guitarist Mark Stojanovich writes on the band’s Facebook page that “I can think of no better way to celebrate [my brother’s] life than with friends & music, two things that he loved.” Rhubarb will perform some of John’s favorite songs, including selections from Ween, Queens of the Stone Age, and the Streets, beginning at 9 tonight.

The band will also play a selection of its original material, alongside sets from Lazlo Hollyfeld, DJ Cutler and the Jony James Band.

New Year’s Eve gigs

If you plan on welcoming 2013 with your boots on and a beer in hand, there are plenty of New Year’s Eve gigs slated for Buffalo clubland on Monday. Here are but a few I heartily recommend.

A multi-act bill featuring the finest of our area’s current progressive jam bands takes place beginning at 8:30 p.m. in Nietzsche’s (248 Allen St.). Headlined by Aqueous, the show will also feature sets from Universe Shark, Funktional Flow and Slip Madigan. With that kind of talent sharing the bill, I sniff a potential “all-star jam” on the main stage, going into the wee small hours. Perhaps?

I can tell you with certainty that each band will perform a full set on the main stage, with sets on the front-of-club stage filling the downtime between. For these small-stage performances, various members of all the participating bands will form temporary collectives for 30-minute sets. All of this will cost you $5 at the door.

Across the street from Nietzsche’s, Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar has procured an all-night license in order to present a bacchanal of DJ music, beginning at 9 p.m. Scheduled to perform are DJs LoPro, Camaican, Charlie the Butcher, BearSkinRug, the Verdict, Swagglerock, Looney Tunes, Big Basha, Loki and Drop D. Information on ticket prices can be obtained by calling Duke’s at 240-9539.

As sad as it is to ponder the fact that this is likely to be the last New Year’s Eve celebration to ever be held at Mohawk Place (47 E. Mohawk St.), it’s nice that the club will be welcoming the new year once again.

The long tradition of Transmission Dance Party New Year’s Eve shows will find the DJ collective spinning “the best of synth-pop, indie and alternative dance music.” Beginning at 10 p.m., expect to hear the likes of the Cure, the Smiths, Joy Division, Ladytron, Depeche Mode, New Order, Prince, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Pet Shop Boys, Sisters of Mercy, Crystal Castles, Alice in Videoland, Devo, Madonna, Oingo Boingo, Gang of Four, MGMT and more. Admission for this 18-and-over show is $5.